Traffic Signal Standards

History

Chaos

170 (CALTRANS / NY)

NEMA (TS 1)
170E
Memory
Plug-in

179

470i 2070

Others . . .

NEMA TS 2
2070N

ATC

Traffic Controllers Timeline

CMU
or
MMU
CMU
or
MMU

NEMA
TS-1

2070
ATC
170

Electromechanical

1940s

NEMA
TS-2

1976

1980s

1992

TS-2
NTCIP

1998

1990s
Slide #3

Electro-Mechanical Controllers
No standards in use
No software needed
Still exists, New York City,
Chicago,
( New York has over 11,000)

Slide #4

NEMA TS 1 & TS 2 Controllers

Functional specification
Includes vendor-dependent hardware & software
Shelf mounted
TS 1 standard pin-outs for A, B & C, but not D
TS 2 provides for serial connection to cabinet
Proprietary solutions for signal timing
Wide variety of cabinet configurations

Slide #5

Type 170 & 179 Controllers

Hardware specification
Software is provided by others
Rack mounted with
standard modules
Standard front panel
Originally developed
by public sector
Very low cost QPL
approach
Utilized older technology
Slide #6

Advanced Transportation Controllers

The ATC is attempting to bring these two
competing standards together while preserving the
best of both.
170

NEMA

ATC
Slide #7

ATC Program Goals

Interchangeability between manufacturers

Assured source of competitively priced controllers
Better adaptability to advances in technology
Cost effective and modular construction
Minimize the level of hardware detail
Ensure interoperability within systems
Provide well defined controller testing
requirements
Slide #8

ATC Program Goals (continued)

Open architecture
Hardware and software platform
Support for multiple ITS applications

Recoverable software investment

Software portability between vendors / technology
Enhanced availability of software applications

Flexible hardware platform

Better adaptation to new technology
Promotes expandability for power users

Traffic control PC
Slide #9

Potential ATC Applications

Traffic Signal
Traffic Surveillance
Transit
Communications
Field Master
Ramp Meter
Variable/Dynamic
Message Sign

General ITS Beacons

CCTV Cameras
Roadway Weather
Information
Weigh in Motion
Irrigation Control
Lane Use Signals

Slide #10

The ATC Family of Standards

Controller Unit 2070-ATC and the ATC

Cabinet System
Application Programming Interface (API)
Application Software

Slide #11

NTCIP
National Transportation Communications for ITS
Protocol (NTCIP)
Device level data dictionaries
Communications protocols for transmission

Based on existing standards

Internet Protocols
International Standards Organization (ISO) OpenSystems Interconnection (OSI) layers
Data element definition uses ASN.1 language
Slide #12

ITS Standards

Data Element
Standards

Message Set
Standards

Protocol
Standards

Data
Element
Data
Element

Data
Element
Data
Element

Message

Communications

Slide #13

Vehicle to
Vehicle
Wide Area Mobile

Transit

Commercial

Vehicle
Subsystems
Emergency

Short Range
Wireless

Remote Access
Subsystems

Vehicle

Center Subsystems
Maintenance & Construction

Archived Data Management

Commercial Vehicle Admin

Freight & Fleet Management

Toll Administration

Transit Management

Emergency Management

Emissions Management

Traffic Management

Information Service Provider

Remote Traveler
Support

Personal Information
Access

National ITS Architecture

Fixed Communications
Roadway

Toll Collection

Parking Management

Commercial Vehicle Check

Maintenance & Construction

Slide #14

Vehicle to
Vehicle
Wide Area Mobile

Transit

Commercial

Vehicle
Subsystems
Emergency

Short Range
Wireless

Remote Access
Subsystems

Vehicle

Emergency Management

Emissions Management

Traffic Management

Information Service Provider

Remote Traveler
Support

Personal Information
Access

Actuated
Signal
Controller
Standards

Center Subsystems
Maintenance & Construction

Archived Data Management

Commercial Vehicle Admin

Freight & Fleet Management

Toll Administration

Transit Management

Where do Traffic Signal Standards fit?

Fixed Communications
Roadway

Toll Collection

Parking Management

Commercial Vehicle Check

Maintenance & Construction

Slide #15

NTCIP Traffic Signal Standard

NTCIP defines communications standards
applicable to traffic signal controllers
Users define controller specifications
Users define system operational characteristics

Slide #16

List of Required Traffic Signal Standards

Dictionaries
NTCIP 1201 Global Object Definitions
NTCIP 1202 Actuated Signal Controller

Protocols
NTCIP 2301 AP-Simple Transportation Management
Framework (STMF) Profile
NTCIP 2101 / 2102 Subnet Profiles
NTCIP 2201 / 2202 Transport Profiles

Slide #17

Bringing Things Together

In general, NTCIP
Uses modular standards
Covers multiple devices
Devices will need multiple compatible standards

Simply specifying NTCIP-Compliant is not

enough..

Slide #18

Web Resources
www.ntcip.org
NTCIP
NTCIP Guide, Case Studies, Library
http://www.standards.its.dot.gov/standards.htm
Standards list, details, fact sheets
FHWA
Standards Development Organizations
www.ite.org
www.ite.org/standards/atc/
www.nema.org
www.aashto.org
Slide #19